Discovery of optical molecular emission from the bipolar nebula surrounding HD 44179.
Abstract
Spectrophotometry and spectropolarimetry with HD 44179 are presented. These measurements reveal that the very broad bump evident in previous low-resolution spectra possesses a large amount of structure, including groups of narrow emission lines and several diffuse features. A reduction in polarization, but constant position angle, through the bump indicates that this emission originates within the nebula itself and merely dilutes the polarized scattered starlight. A few very weak atomic emission lines are detected, but the overall feature, which strongly resembles the emission spectra of some molecules, remains unidentified. Constraints on the excitation mechanism are discussed.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 1980
- DOI:
- 10.1086/183309
- Bibcode:
- 1980ApJ...239L.133S
- Keywords:
-
- Astronomical Photometry;
- Interstellar Matter;
- Molecular Spectra;
- Nebulae;
- Optical Emission Spectroscopy;
- Stellar Luminosity;
- Atomic Spectra;
- Emission Spectra;
- Line Spectra;
- Polarimeters;
- Polarized Light;
- Spectrophotometry;
- Astrophysics